Patent GB-646693-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the continuous manufacture of sheets of glass
IPC: C03B33/02
Filed: 1948-10-28
Abstract: 646,693. Cutting glass. SOC. ANON. DES MANUFACTURES DES GLACES ET PRODUITS CHIMIQUES DE ST. GOBAIN, CHAUNY, & CIREY. Oct. 28, 1948, No. 28055. Convention date, Oct. 29, 1947. [Class 56] Comprises a method of and means for mechanically cutting a vertically-drawn continuous strip of glass 1, Fig. 1, into elements of commercial dimensions. The strip is first scored transversely by a diamond or the like 13 put into operation when the leading edge of the rising strip contacts a roller 11 on a lever 11a rotatably mounted in the cradle 4, pivoted at 7 and carrying the drawing rollers 5, 5<SP>1</SP>, 6, 6<SP>1</SP>. The cradle is swung clockwise from the vertical to a horizontal position after the scored line has passed a roller 14<SP>1</SP> whereby the glass is severed along the line and the element 3 thus formed is supported in a horizontal position, the swinging of the cradle being controlled by a pinion 9 driven by a motor energized by the contact of the leading edge of the strip with a second roller 12; this motor is switched out by the engagement of contacts 15, 16 and simultaneously a motor driving a sprocket 26, Fig. 2, is switched in to reciprocate a gripper and cutter-carrying crossbeam 21 along the length of a stationary table 20 to cut the glass longitudinally. The beam is provided at each end with a slotted standard 22, and a projection 28 from an endless chain 25 passing over the sprockets 26, 27 engages in the slot 29 thereof. The movement of the cross-beam comprises. four phases for each element 3, starting from a position to the extreme right of the table 20; (i) right to left, cutters up; (ii) left to right, cutters up; (iii) right to left, cutters down; (iv) left to right, cutters) up. As the cross-beam nears the left-hand position towards the end of phase (i) as shown in Fig. 2, the leading edge of the element 3 penetrates between stationary and pivotal grippers 32, 36 carried by brackets 30 on the beam. In phase (ii) the element 3 is dragged forward by the grippers until its trailing edge drops in front of levers 50, Fig. 4, counterweighted at 51 to a normal vertical position, and the leading edge is freed from the grippers just before the end of this phase by the grippers 36 being raised by the engagement of an associated lever 42, Fig. 2, with an abutment 43<SP>1</SP> on the table, the slight further movement of the beam to the right permitting the gripper 32 to clear the leading edge of the element and to allow the element to drop flat on to the table 20. Release of the contact roller 12 energizes the motor to restore the cradle to its vertical position in readiness for the next element, the motor then being deenergized by the engagement of contacts 15, 16<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 1. During the final stage of phase (ii) the beam contacts spring- pressed plungers 48<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 4, carried by vertical projections 46 on rods 45 to which the levers 50 are pivoted, abutments 52 on the rods preventing counterclock movement of the levers. The rods are thus moved to the right so that the levers 50 successively engage the trailing edge 49' of the element and push the element forward until its leading edge 49<SP>11</SP> contacts and lies completely along a stationary abutment 44<SP>1</SP> exactly at 90 degrees to the direction of subsequent movement of the cutters. This aligning of the element compensates for any obliquity, as shown in Fig. 5, in the leading and trailing edges with respect to the longitudinal edges of the element. Also during the final stage of this phase the cutters 86, Fig. 2, are lowered, this movement being controlled from the shaft 41 rotated by the arm 42 which coacts with the abutments 43<SP>1</SP> to open the grippers, a St. Andrew's Cross arrangement being incorporated to ensure that the shaft rotates in stages of exactly 90 degrees, the arms on the shaft controlling the cutters being 180 degrees apart so that the cutters are lowered only on each alternate movement of the shaft. Further means are provided to raise the cutters at the end of phase (iii). At the end of phase (iv) the motor driving the chains 25 is switched out at 81, a further St. Andrew's Cross 77 being provided in the control for the switch to ensure that the arm 80, driven by the movement of the cross-beam '21, for operating the switch rotates in stages of exactly 90 degrees, the switch being opened on each alternate movement ,only, i.e. once only in the four phases.